Eighteen million foreign tourists visited Vietnam last year, an annual growth of 16.2%, an all time high for the country. Vietnam also won many tourism awards in 2019, Intellasia News has reported.
The tourism industry has contributed the country’s national growth, being one of 10 countries with the highest tourism growth in the world in 2019.
Vietnam won awards such as “Asia’s Best Destination,” “The world’s leading heritage destination in 2019,” and a “World Golf Destination.” The World Travel Awards also named Vietnam “Asia’s leading culinary destination.” With its beautiful landscape, friendly people, varying cuisines, great accommodations, and affordable costs Vietnam has become an ideal travel destination. The country has even begun to open up several halal food restaurants, catering to Muslim Indonesian tourists.
Vietnam successfully hosted the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2019, the 2nd USA-DPRK summit and the UN Vesak Day 2019, which all helped in attracting more tourists. The country moved from 75th out of 141 in 2015 to 63rd out of 140 in 2019 in the World Economic Forum tourism rankings.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has set a goal of 20.5 million foreign tourists and 90 million domestic tourists for the upcoming year.
Deputy Minister Le Quang Tung said: “Localities need to exploit their potential to ensure sustainable tourism growth in order to boost local socioeconomic development. It’s necessary to mobilize more resources for tourism development, focusing on public-private partnership and the role of strategic investors in infrastructure and modern tourism development, and encouraging the community to participate in sustainable tourism development.”
Vietnam is set to serve as ASEAN chair and host a Formula One race in Hanoi this year.
